2006 Women's World Championship – Jamaica
Jamaica quietly confident ahead of first round tournament (FIVB)
04/11/2005
Kingston, Jamaica, April 11, 2005 – Jamaican women’s
Volleyball technical director Phillip Greenland has
expressed optimism about the national team's chances of
advancing to the second round of the 2006 Women’s World
Championship when Jamaica host a 2006 Women’s World
Championship first round tournament (Norceca Pool A) in
Kingston from April 15-17.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Greenland said despite
the fact that the team has not been together for a long
time because of club commitments, the players are
capable of toppling the opposition when the tournament
starts on Friday.
"The British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands have not
yet reached our level so we expect to beat them,”
Greenland said. “Our greatest challenge should come from
the Netherlands Antilles. They have a deeply entrenched
system and thus their talent base is presumably strong.
However, I believe we can beat them too."
Jamaica are the number two ranked Caribbean team and
46th in the world. In fact, the team is the highest
ranked in this pool of four, with the Netherlands
Antilles ranked at 56th and the other two teams
unranked.
GREAT STRIDES
The last time Jamaica embarked on a World Championship
journey was in 2001. They progressed to the second round
in Aruba and Greenland believes they can do it again
saying if Jamaica get past the upcoming hurdle, they
also stand a good chance of success in the second round,
in a tournament which takes place in the Dominican
Republic from August 24-28. If Jamaica advances to that
stage they will meet Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
Central American champions Costa Rica and a
second-placed team from the Central America.
Three of these five teams will advance to the Women’s
World Championship final round in Japan and Greenland is
eying a first ever World Championship berth for Jamaica.
"Getting to the second round will mean that we are two
games away from Japan. We are confident that we have the
ability to get there and hence we are working
assiduously to ensure that the dream is achieved," he
said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the make-up of his team, the
technical director and trainer has indicated that it has
balance, depth and players who all want to do well.
"They are all excited. They are ready to go. None of
these players have ever played an international game in
front of their home crowd and it's something all of them
are waiting to do," he said. "Coming out of the club
championships they are all in good shape and judging by
the enthusiasm they have being showing I know they are
eager to pull it off."
THREE NEWCOMERS
The national senior team is comprised of three newcomers
in Romaine McNeill, Annie Williams Lewis and former
national junior player Tanya Distant.
Distant, a defensive specialist has been described by
Greenland as a "disciplined and determined player who
goes to great ends to keep the ball off the ground".
He described power hitter McNeil and defender Lewis as
"tremendous workers".
Returning to the national side is Paula-Ann Porter
Jones, who last donned the national colours when Jamaica
placed second for the first time in the region at the
Caribbean championship in the US Virgin Islands in 1996.
The national team is completed by Kamille Dwyer,
Shanique Green, Cheryl Daley, Shedeiky Hamilton, Cherine
Richards, Tracyann Pryce, Ptamony Fletcher, and Claudia
Miller.
